6D/5N Ancient Home Stay

Ancient Home Stay Tour06 Days / 05 Nights

Day 1: Arrive in Bhutan / Paro Sightseeing
On the flight into Paro you will experience breathtaking views of Mount Everest, Kanchen Junga and other Himalayan Peaks including sacred Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake. On your arrival at the Paro International Airport your Smile Bhutan guide will welcome you. To begin the journey we will visit the Rinpung dzong, Ta –dzong, Kichu lakhang and explore the charming town of Paro — visiting small shops that sell everything from betel nut to exquisite traditional fabric. In the evening you will get the chance to watch locals practice the national sport of archery. During dinner at the hotel your guide will provide a brief introduction to Bhutanese history and culture.

Altitude: 2200m
1 night stay in Paro

Day 2: Paro – Punakha
After breakfast we will begin our drive to Punakha (about 4 ½ hours). About an hour’s climb outside Thimphu we will reach the Dochula pass which offers views of the entire Bhutanese Himalayas (from east of Chomolhari to the Gangkhar Puensum). The pass has 108 chortens honoring those who died driving out insurgents from southern Bhutan in 2003. En route to Punakha we will visit the temple of the divine madman (temple of fertility). After lunch we will explore the magnificent Punakha Dzong Fortress, the winter seat of the Head Abbot. A pleasant 30-minute hike through rice fields to a Tantric Buddhist temple brings the day to an end.

Altitude: 1250m
1 night stay in Punakha

Day 3:Punakha – Gantey | Day excursion and Home stay.
After breakfast we will drive towards Gantey Valley. Gangtey is a wide glacial valley with a central stream meandering through open grasslands and thickets of dwarf bamboo. Farmlands occupy the peripheral slopes where potatoes and turnips are grown. The forests beyond the farms are mostly coniferous. The general vegetation is composed of mainly blue pine, birch, maple and several species of rhododendrons. The Central Valley is inhabited by the magnificent endangered black-necked Cranes, which rely on the repeated grazing of bamboo by the local cattle and horses in summer to the prepare the ground for their winter stay. Later in the evening we will drive back to wangdue for your stay at farm house. house for the night stay. You will get a chance to be with a local and learn better about locals. Taste the real food of Bhutan. It will be good time to learn some new recipe before moving back to your homeland.

Altitude: 1250m
1 night stay in Wangdue

Day 4 : Punakha – Thimphu
After breakfast we will drive towards Thimphu Valley, stopping for photos along the way. Upon arrival in Thimphu we will have a traditional Bhutanese lunch followed by a visit to the Memorial Chorten where we will circumambulate around the stupa. After lunch we will visit the Textile Museum, the Chang gang kha lakhang, and the Takin (national animal of Bhutan) Reserve, then hike to Wangditse and the Zilukha Nunnery.

Altitude: 2400m
1 night stay in Thimphu

Day 5: Paro / Hike to Tiger’s Nest – Home stay
After breakfast we will drive towards north of Paro for a full day hike up to Taktsang lakhang, more commonly known as the Tiger’s Nest. It was established in the eighth century when Padmasambava, the country’s patron saint, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of his mythical tigress consort to meditate. The main buildings sit astride a sheer rock cliff face more than 2000m above the valley. The most prominent building burned to the ground in 1998, but was rebuilt with no visual architectural differences from its predecessor. Our hike begins at roughly 8,000 ft and goes to just over 10,000 ft. On reaching the main temple we will experience a once-in-a-lifetime view of the valley and the temple. After the hike .Evening it will be leisure time to spent .

Altitude: 2200m
1 night stay in Paro

Day 6: Onward Destinations
After breakfast in the hotel, we will head to the airport in time to catch your departing flight. Your guide from the Smile Bhutan family will bid you farewell and the remote and legendary Dragon Kingdom will again disappear behind its guardian mountain.